not your mama's music appreciation

2/04/15 Medieval to Modern: Melody & Harmony

– The beginning of this song is a modern Example of monophonic texture: unaccompanied melody
– Listen for the types of text-setting used:
Syllabic: one note per syllable
Neumatic: a few notes per syllable
Melismatic: many notes per syllable

Another example that uses all 3 types of text-setting. At what points in the melody does the text-setting change from syllabic to neumatic & melismatic? What is the effect of these shifts? Link to lyrics

How does this relate to Gregorian chant?
– Melismas used for expressive purposes
– Transition from monophonic texture to multiple voices

Chant-like melody with a second line of notes added:

Organum: earliest form of vocal harmonization

A modern example:

“Prelude 2” in your book: Music as Commodity and Social Activity

Social Activity:
– Religious services
– Entertainment
– Recreation

Commodity
– Notation made it possible to preserve and transmit music
– Music as a profession: how did musicians earn a living?

Your book, p. 68: “Musicians were supported by the chief institutions of their society- the church, city, and state, as well as royal and aristocratic courts. They found employment as choirmasters, singers, organists, instrumentalists, copyists, composers, teachers, instrument builders, and, by the sixteenth century, music printers. There was a corresponding growth in a number of supporting musical institutions: church choirs and schools, music-publishing houses, civic wind bands.”